Stamp Insider for March–April 2017

The March-April 2017 issue of the Stamp Insider, journal of the Federation of New York Philatelic Societies, is online and available for free download in PDF format or viewing online with page turning. It is available in both PDF and HTML5-friendly format at:

The issue is devoted to the home front when the US entered World War I on April 6, 1917.

In the lead story — Flogging Bonds To Beat the Kaiser: Slogan Cancels Promoted Public Awareness — Glenn A. Estus shows how slogan postmarks promoted Liberty Bond sales in the US and War Bonds in Canada, as well as Thrift and interest-bearing War Savings stamps in both countries. Estus and George McGowan’s Food Will Win the War illustrates slogan postmarks used in the US, Manila, Philippines, and Newfoundland.

Steve Swain’s The Darker Side of Patriotism: The Home Front Confronts the War Front illustrates postcards promoting the sale of Liberty Bonds and stamps, contrasting the colorful domestic cards, black and white soldier’s mail Overseas Post Cards showing the weapons of war, and Treasury Department cards produced for the Liberty Loan Committee of New England. In a short article he also illustrates a Red Cross postcard for military personnel arriving overseas sent by an heir of the founder of Coca-Cola.

Albert W. Starkweather’s A Relative Mystery shows how a February 19, 1919, postcard sent by a great uncle on duty in France to his mother ties in with family genealogy.

In another significant event in 1917, Ruth L. Sabo’s Deltiolgoy column is devoted to the Russian Revolution.

The featured video — The Bond — is the silent movie Charlie Chaplin created at his own expense for the Liberty Load Committee for theatrical release to help sell Liberty Bonds. His half brother, Syd Chaplin, appears as the kaiser.